Melissa Montoya started to paint retablos at the the age of eight years old. She exhibited her pieces at the Santa Fe Spanish Market and used the money she earned to help pay for college. 

The following are the awards and recognition she has received: 

• Retablo of The Holy Family (Spanish Folk Art) won over 100 other contestants for Spanish Market Winter poster, that is held in Santa Fe New Mexico, 1992. 

• A St. Barbara retablo, part of the permanent collection at the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe New Mexico1993.

• St. Barbara retablo selected to toured the United States "Across Generations" tour, sponsored by the Santa Fe Folk Art Museum, 1993. 

• St. Barbara retablo chosen as a promotional piece used on a invitation to the Grand Opening of a new wing at the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, 1993. 

• Taught a high school class in New York how to make retablos through mail correspondence, 1995.

email: theresasartgallery@yahoo.com 

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